Broom.



N. H. BEEBE & H. E. SMITH.

BROOM.

APPLICATION FILED D1109, 1910.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

awuemkow UNITED STATES PATENT orrion NORMAN H. BEEBE AND HARRY E. SMITHQOF WICHITA, KANsAs, ASSIGNORS, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To PATENT BROOM MAcnINnnY COMPANY, or scoTT COUNTY, IOWA.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 13, 1914 Application filedDecember9,1910. Serial No. 596,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NORMAN H. BEEBE and HARRY E. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Wichita, in county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brooms, of which the following is a specification. 1

Our invention relates to an improvement in brooms, and the object is to provide means for holding the broom-corn in place. This is accomplished by providing two clamping jaws which are connected. together at their ends and connected to the broom handle at their centers.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one of the jaws, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the two jaws together, Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the two jaws, Fig. 4 is an edge view of a complete broom partly in section, Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the lower end of the broom handle, Fig. 6 is a view of the locking ring, and Fig. 7 is a section view of one of the jaws onthe line w--w of Fig. 1.

A and B represent the two clamping jaws or members which are constructed of suitable flexible metal whereby the cornor broom fiber can be securely held therebetween, and 1, 1 indicate the fluted edges and ends of the jaws. At the lower ends of the upper edges of the jaw A, slotted lips 2 are formed which slots are adapted to receive the tongues 3 on the jaw B for locking the ends of the members or jaws together. The central portion of each jaw is curved or made convex to conform to the shape of the broom handle 4, the broom handle being received between the convex portions 5 of the jaws. Extensions 6 are formed at the center of the aws, and extend above the jaws. Each extension is provided with a groove 7, which grooves are adapted to be received in the annular groove 8 formed in the handle 4. After the grooves 7 are received in the groove 8, a ring 9 which is split, is received in the semi-circular grooves 7 and locks them in the groove 8 in the handle 4 thereby fastening the jaws to the handle. A small nail 10 is driven through each jaw into the handle 4 to prevent the jaws from i rotating about the handle. The handle 4 is provided wth a recessor depression 11 below the annular groovef8, and from the lower edge of the depression the handle tapers as at '12 throughout the remaining length of the handle. The tapering end allows the cornfibers tobe placed around the handlewithoutfmaterially increasing the thickness of the broomat that point.

The broom-corn is placed around the hairdle and the clamps are brought into position so that the extensions 6 are locked to the handle by the ring 9,-when the jaws or members will be pressed together for fastening the fibers therebetween, by forcing the tongues 3 through the slots in the lips 2, and then bending or clenching the ends of the tongues to prevent them from being drawn through the slots. It will be noted that the fluted portion extends from the center of each jaw along the upper and lower edges and along the ends of the jaws. The central portion of the jaws between the flutes is .a plain surface, which is sprung outward as indicated in Fig. 7, when the jaws are pressed tightly against the fibers in fastening the fibers between the jaws. The

fibers in drying shrink, and the flat surface of the jaws has a tendency to return to its original shape,and will continue to press tightly against the fibers. The fluted edges give the clamps or jaws strength to resist the pressure, while the flat surface will give the required pressure on the corn without causing the fluted edges to cut the corn fibers. j

The central or convex portion 5 of the jaws is raised above the flat surface of the jaws, and the depression 11 of the handle 4 extends below the edge of the jaws. The fluted lower edgesof the jaws cause the fibers to pa'ss into the depression, andform a constriction between the handle and jaws whereby the corn at the center of the broom will be held in position without cutting or injuring the fibers. The fluted ends of the jaws will engage the corn fibers which would not be engaged by the lower fluted edges of the jaws, and some that will only receive a partial engagement with the fluted upper edges of the jaws, these short flutes giving the same holding power on the fiber as is possessed by the remainder of the clamps or jaws.

It will therefore be seen that we have pro vided simple means for locking or fastening the broom corn to the handle, and that the said means or clamps are held together Without passing any fastening means through the fibers; v

Having fully described our invention,

to secure 2. In a broom, the combination with a handle having a circumferential groove at or near one end, of clamps having halfround extensions at the center which embrace the handle, said extensions circumferentially fluted, said fluted portion fitting the circumferential groove of the handle, and a ring fitted to and embracing the fluted portion whereby to hold the latter in the V groove of the handle.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses.

NORMAN H. BEEBE. HARRY E. SMITH. Witnesses:

P. G. LEONARD, C. C. Drmvonrn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 7 Washington, D. C. 

